Remote Healthcare: Virtual Hospitals, Healthcare Communities, and Telehealth. As mobile technologies advance, patients have become more intelligent and proactive about personal care. Today, patients and providers are working together to transform the healthcare industry by taking a “proactive” approach to care rather than a “reactive” one. Patient participation and self-defense can lead to better clinical outcomes and a better quality of life.
1 To that end, healthcare leaders must ensure that each patient's journey is personalized, without barriers or obstacles, so that people can continue to participate in their care. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic increased the need for better sterilization methods that were efficient and safe to help prevent the transmission of the disease. To address this problem, health systems sought to incorporate autonomous disinfection robots with ultraviolet “C” (UV-C) light in hospitals and other clinical environments. 6.7 By doing so, providers ensure that medical staff and patients are better protected against the spread of infectious diseases.
More than half of the world's population lacks access to essential health services and 100 million people around the world live in extreme poverty due to health costs. 9.By delivering medicines, diagnoses and medical samples safely, quickly and efficiently to and from remote regions, drones offer a cost-effective means of improving outcomes, especially in remote and underserved communities, such as low- and middle-income countries, 10 Investment in digital mental health solutions is increasing, 13 Some technological platforms allow greater access to mental health services and connect patients with mental health providers. Through telehealth, it is now possible to receive therapy on demand and at any time directly from your mobile phone. Retirement, exhaustion, and employee retention are three major issues that cause staff shortages in the healthcare industry.
These challenges became more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it is estimated that 1 in 5 health workers decided to leave the force. 17.The WHO estimates that we will need another 18 million health workers to achieve universal health care by 2030 and an additional 9.9 million nurses and midwives to meet the global goals. 18 With an aging population around the world and people living longer, workers will be needed to help with long-term care. Cloud computing is increasingly available to patients and staff in the healthcare industry.
By taking advantage of remotely available data, doctors and patients can easily and quickly access historical and recent clinical results on a single platform. In addition, as the use of electronic medical records becomes more widespread, cloud technology will become more cost-effective and secure and will create new opportunities for big data software. 19.Cloud technologies offer staff a scalable way to provide optimized patient care and allow patients to take a proactive approach to their health. 20 However, leaders must be aware of potential barriers to cloud technologies, including the costs of data migration, cultural changes, security compliance, and interoperability standards and regulations.
21 With limited access to healthcare workers, patients with non-emergency conditions can access their providers more quickly and cheaply than traditional visits through remote appointments and via live video using their computers or mobile phones. In addition, telehealth systems allow patients to send direct messages to their providers and organizations with concerns ranging from prescription changes to insurance questions. It also allows patients to quickly access health education, 23,24.In addition, telehealth systems make it possible to integrate information from multiple patient visits and test results into electronic medical records, making it easy to have the complete patient history in a single application. When linked to data from portable health devices, telehealth also allows patients to remain engaged and proactive in their care, which is especially crucial for chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure, 25,26 As telehealth systems expand, leadership teams must ensure safe, reliable and equitable access to different population subgroups, particularly in rural environments and for people with disabilities.
In addition, by using cryptographic access keys, the blockchain can offer patients a means to allow the exchange and monetization of their data at the patient level without compromising privacy. Overall, blockchain can improve the efficiency of workflow processes in many healthcare systems. 33,34 Social determinants of health (SDOH) are environmental conditions in which people are born, live and worship, affecting a wide range of health outcomes, quality of life, and medical-related risks. 35.SDOH contributes to wide disparities and inequities in health and affects the well-being of people, especially those with limited access to safe and healthy options.
The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and the Centers for Disease Control have launched health care programs and initiatives to address the challenges of SDOH, 36-38.In addition, with the COVID-19 pandemic, SDOH has become even more evident in low- and middle-income communities. Through data-based programs, healthcare industry leaders are developing novel software technologies or implementing SDOH-focused strategies in their companies to help address SDOH challenges among their patients and staff. As we have seen with the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare industry is constantly changing. By highlighting rapidly advancing areas and key trends in the healthcare industry, leaders can identify which sectors they should focus on and invest in to bring significant value to their organizations.
However, as the IoT and medical devices, such as insulin pumps and pacemakers, are increasingly interconnected with computers and networks, they pose significant security risks for both patients and providers. Multiple medical and IoT devices have become the standard for many health centers in recent years, and the number of connected devices has increased. With the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting the healthcare industry, radiologists faced great pressure, as computerized diagnostics became the norm. In this situation, an AI-based system eliminated the burden on radiologists by optimizing the diagnostic process.
According to Saurabh Gupta, an expert in innovation, research and strategy at Netscribes, the digital therapeutic trend experienced enormous momentum due to the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to help medical professionals to redefine their perspective on the provision of health services. The COVID-19 pandemic played an important role in boosting the digitalization of the psychological industry. Today, we can find mental health services available online through solutions such as HIPAA-compliant video conferencing tools. The technology automates the daily activities of a facility, including hiring staff and 3D simulation, and increases productivity and efficiency.
In healthcare, 3D bioprinting is not a new technology. However, its ability to create three-dimensional structures similar to natural fabrics is undoubtedly attracting the attention of scientists and researchers. In addition, patients have more and more options for cardiovascular and neurological implants. In remote regions and places where there is a shortage of doctors (such as China and India), this trend has the potential to save lives by dramatically expanding access to medical treatment.
In the medical field, current trends surrounding the use of AI often involve increasing and improving the skills of human workers. Trends in medical software and healthcare technology have shifted from focusing more on patient satisfaction to greater security of patient data. .
